The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

not yours.’ And soon they were under the
influence of rage. Maddened by the beauty of
the damsel, they soon forgot their love and affection
for each other. Both of them, deprived of reason
by passion, then took up their fierce maces.
Each repeating, I was the first, I was the first,’
(in taking her hand) struck the other. And the
fierce Asuras, struck by each other with the mace,
fell down upon the ground, their bodies bathed in
blood, like two suns dislodged from the firmament.
And beholding this, the women that had come there,
and the other Asuras there present, all fled away
trembling in grief and fear, and took refuge in the
nether regions. The Grandsire himself of pure
soul, then came there, accompanied by the celestials,
and the great Rishis. And the illustrious Grandsire
applauded Tilottama and expressed his wish of granting
her a boon. The Supreme Deity, before Tilottama
spoke, desirous of granting her a boon, cheerfully
said, ’O beautiful damsel, thou shalt roam in
the region of the Adityas. Thy splendour shall
be so great that nobody will ever be able to look
at thee for any length of time!’ The Grandsire
of all creatures, granting this boon unto her, establishing
the three worlds in Indra as before, returned to his
own region.’

“Narada continued, ’It was thus that Asuras,
ever united and inspired by the same purpose slew
each other in wrath for the sake of Tilottama.
Therefore, from affection I tell you, ye foremost ones
of Bharata’s line, that if you desire to do
anything agreeable to me, make some such arrangements
that you may not quarrel with one another for the sake
of Draupadi.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’The illustrious
Pandavas, thus addressed by the great Rishi Narada,
consulting with one another, established a rule amongst
themselves in the presence of the celestial Rishi himself
endued with immeasurable energy. And the rule
they made was that when one of them would be sitting
with Draupadi, any of the other four who would see
that one thus must retire into the forest for twelve
years, passing his days as a Brahmacharin. After
the virtuous Pandavas had established that rule amongst
themselves, the great Muni Narada, gratified with them,
went to the place he wished. Thus, O Janamejaya,
did the Pandavas urged by Narada, established a rule
amongst themselves in regard to their common wife.
And it was for this, O Bharata, that no dispute ever
arose between them.’”

SECTION CCXV

(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva)

“Vaisampayana said, ’The Pandavas, having
established such a rule, continued to reside there.
By the prowess of their arms they brought many kings
under their sway. And Krishna became obedient
unto all the five sons of Pritha, those lions among
men, of immeasurable energy. Like the river Saraswati
decked with elephants, which again take pleasure in
that stream, Draupadi took great delight in her five
heroic husbands and they too took delight in her.
And in consequence of the illustrious Pandavas being
exceedingly virtuous in their practice, the whole race
of Kurus, free from sin, and happy, grew in prosperity.